Ukraine strikes force Russian fuel rationing as Putin eyes US talks
Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries have triggered domestic fuel rationing and forced Moscow to review export agreements, deepening the economic toll on Russia's energy sector even as Vladimir Putin signals readiness for US-led negotiations.
Russia has introduced fuel rationing in Siberia and is reviewing its export commitments after Ukrainian drone strikes crippled domestic refining capacity. The governor of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev, imposed a 50-litre daily purchase limit per vehicle at state-run Rosneft stations. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Moscow is actively reviewing fuel export agreements to avoid compromising domestic needs.
The measures highlight the mounting pressure on Russia's energy infrastructure, a cornerstone of the wartime economy. Vladimir Putin acknowledged "a certain shortage" of fuel resulting from Ukrainian attacks on critical infrastructure, though he downplayed the situation as "not critical." The Russian president said the immediate priority is improving air defences and increasing fuel deliveries to occupied Crimea by both land and sea.
The rationing follows weekend strikes claimed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on two Russian oil refineries. A drone attack in Slavyansk-na-Kubani sparked a blaze that killed one person and wounded another. A second reported strike hit a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, roughly 700 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, prompting local governor Mikhail Evraev to temporarily close roads leading to the regional capital.
“Each [strike] means a reduction in the resources that fuel the Russian war machine, and another step toward peace,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. For European markets, Moscow's struggle to protect its domestic supply chain raises fresh questions about the long-term resilience of Russian hydrocarbon exports.
Diplomatic opening
Amid the economic friction, Putin signalled an opening for diplomatic engagement with the United States. He told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin that he expects US negotiators to arrive in Moscow once Washington reaches an agreement with Iran. “We are ready to continue negotiations and ready to continue negotiations and discuss all the details,” Putin said.
The remarks follow the G7 summit in France, where US President Donald Trump stated that Russia should "make a deal with Ukraine." Trump's stance appeared to shift this week, moving from a previous assertion that Zelenskyy lacked the "cards" to win, to a Wednesday statement that the Ukrainian leader is "doing well" in the war.
The civilian and military toll of the conflict continued to climb overnight. A Russian attack killed two people and injured 16, including two children, in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. Russia's Defence Ministry said it shot down 213 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine's air force reported intercepting 125 of 142 Russian drones and seven of eight missiles fired at its territory.
